Air Canada hosted an official send-off celebration at Pearson airport for Team Canada athletes and delegation members Wednesday night for 2024 Paris Olympic Games onboard a Boeing 777 complete with a special celebratory livery for Team Canada. And the airline promised that, thanks to its ‘Going for Gold’ program, the athletes would arrive “rested and ready to compete at their best.”
The program involves the careful choreography of more than 250 Air Canada employees working across 20 branches and coordination of multiple airports throughout its global network, all working together to ensure a smooth and efficient travel experience for Team Canada.
“Team Canada represents the very best of who we are as a country and inspires all of us as Canadians to pursue our own dreams,” said Andy Shibata, VP, Brand of Air Canada. “As we ramp up the celebrations for these remarkable athletes, Air Canada is thrilled to be uniting Canadian fans in Paris, at home and around the world with a series of activations celebrating Team Canada’s pursuit of their Olympic and Paralympic dreams this summer.”
Paris activations
Meanwhile, in Paris, the Air Canada Flight Deck at Canada Olympic House will provide a space for hospitality, community and connection. Designed to reflect the signature elements of aviation and showcase Canada’s rich and vibrant culture, the venue will play host to a series of events for both fans and athletes, featuring Canadian comfort food and beverages, and some of Canada’s best musical talent, including Arkells and LOUD. The elements representing Canadian culture will also be featured in Team Canada celebrations at Canada Paralympic House in Paris during the Paralympic Games.
Additionally, Air Canada has teamed up with CBC-Radio Canada and Canadian icons France Beaudoin and Olympian Phylicia George to report on CBC and its various platforms the Games experience as they mingle with fans and athletes at the Air Canada Flight Deck.
Ticket contest
Meanwhile, Air Canada will launch the ‘Punch Your Ticket’ contest to coincide with the Games opening ceremony. The contest will provide a platform for Canadians to share their messages of support to Team Air Canada Olympic and Paralympic athletes via social media while giving entrants the chance to win one of nine pairs of round-trip tickets to any destination where Air Canada flies.
Plans are also underway for the next send-off celebration, which will take place when the Team Canada athletes and delegation members for the Paralympic Games depart before the Opening Ceremony on Aug. 28.
Air Canada has been the Official Airline of the Canadian Olympic Team since 1988 and Canadian Paralympic Team since 2007.